Everton eyeing Branthwaite replacement in Championship defender

With a uniquely traumatic campaign drawing to a close, Everton now face another difficult and challenging summer transfer window round the corner.

It is going to be a tough and trying window with the club still uncertain of who it's owners will be and when they might take over (if anyone does!) and facing a very tight financial reality regardless.

A number of players are out of contract and some of them will almost certainly leave while several of the team's best young players could also be sold to supply desperately-needed cash.

Today reports are claiming that the Toffees have already got a player in mind should one of their biggest stars leave Goodison Park in a few weeks time.

That player is of course Branthwaite. The 21-year-old England international has had a superb, breakthrough season and is inevitably attracting a lot of attention from rival clubs.

I sincerely hope that Branthwaite stays on Merseyside, but the reality is that if a big enough offer is made in it will be hard for the Blues to say no, unless their finances have been seriously improved by a new owner coming in.

That seems very unlikely and so while not certain it could well be that we will see the last of the powerful and imperious young centre-back in an Everton shirt when the team play the final game of the campaign next weekend at Arsenal.

His potential replacement - if this story proves accurate - might well be Hull City central defender Jacob Greaves.

He has enjoyed a fine season with the Tigers in the Championship and offers similar qualities and strengths to Branthwaite, although it is hard to imagine him being as good.

Anyway, he represents a type of defender who could well possibly end up replacing the player signed from Carlise United back in January 2020.

No doubt other names might well emerge as the countdown to the summer transfer window continues.